Avon and Somerset police are hunting for a man who tied up a woman and her daughter at their Bridgwater home(Getty)

Avon and Somerset police are hunting for a man who tied up a mother and daughter in their Bridgwater home in a "horrific" sexual assault.

The man entered the home in the Dunwear Lane area of Sydenham through an unlocked door between 7.50am and 8.15am on 21 January before he tied up a woman and her child and threatened them with a knife. A sexual assault then took place.

He demanded money and jewellery but is thought to have left the house empty-handed before fleeing on foot.

He is described as white, between 25 and 60 years old, wearing a yellow high vis fluorescent jacket and was wearing a balaclava-style mask.

The suspect was also wearing dark coloured tracksuit trousers with an elasticated bottom and white trainers.

The mother and her child were tied up at their home at Dunwear LaneGoogle Maps

Senior Investigating Officer Detective Chief Inspector Andy Williams said: "We're treating this as an horrific incident in which a mother and her child were tied up and threatened at knifepoint by an unknown man.

"An offence of this gravity will naturally cause concern in the local community and I'd like to reassure people that we've got a team of experienced detectives and officers working on the case.

"We're looking after the victims who've been through an horrendous ordeal and are giving them all the help and support they need.

"During the course of our inquiry we've carried out house-to-house enquiries at more than 250 properties and are following up on any leads resulting from these visits.

"It's likely there will be an ongoing police presence as we continue making enquiries to piece together what happened.

Reported sightings

A man matching the offender's description was seen by a witness in Dunwear Lane at around 8.12am

The man was then seen running towards the junction of Westonzoyland Road

He turns left into Westonzoyland Road and disappears from sight

A man is seen on CCTV by St John and St Francis Primary School

A fence was broken in St David's Court, possibly around the time this incident happened

A knife linked to the inquiry has been found in a garden in Somerville Way

Information should be given to police on 101, quoting 207 of today (05/02) or to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.